Button-feeding mechanism.



W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911.

' Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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- W/TNESSES: Ill/VENTOI? WQ 7 flm W AAWMNW MN I /W ,4 TTOH/VEV W. L.BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILVED JULY 31, 19!! 1,15%6920Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR @WZ K w zfimw WNW I B ATTORNEY W. L. BARRON.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANlSM.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 31. 911.

1,152,692. PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY UNITED ES TE PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L.BARRON, or NEW ORK, niqnssienon 'ro, SINGER ANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, ACORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-FEEDING MncHANisM.

To all whom it m an concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. BARRON, acitizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Button- Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in button-feeding mechanism andit has for its object to increase the effectiveness of operation of suchmechanism, to insure the presentation to the fastening devices of thebutton without injury to the same, and to adapt the mechanism foraccommodation of buttons of different types, shapes, dimensions anddegrees of imperfection.

In its preferred embodiment, the improvement is applied tobutton-feeding mechanism of the type shown and described in the UnitedStates Patent to J. J. Sullivan No. 596,020, of December 21, 1897, andcomprisin a c lindrical' ho) )er inclosin a rotar agitator and providedwith a lateral delivery aperture through which buttons are dischargedinto the upper end of an lnclined chute from the lower end of which theyare fed successively to fastening position along a guideway in thepresser-foot of a sewing machine by means of a feeder or pusher engagingthe button-head and maintaining it firmly seated upon said guidew'ayduring the production of the initial fastening stitches by which theyare secured to the fabric clamped between the presser-foot and awork-support beneath the same.

According to the present improvement, the..feeder is preferably providedwith a primary jaw adapted to engage the buttonhead in the direction ofthe latters movement and an auxiliary jaw adapted to yield transverselyof such movement and to engage the button-head to press the same againstthe guideway of the presser-foot, automatically acting means beingprovided for retracting the auxiliary jaw out of operative relation withthe primary jaw for the reception of each button to be presented to thestitch-forming mechanism. The presser-foot is preferably provided with:1- depending lip extending below the top of the work-support forbending the fabric over the rearward edge of the work-support to provideclearance for the button-head in Specification of Letters fatent.

mama Sept; *1, 1915.

the fastening operation, and the hopper and chute are preferably adaptedespecially for 'ing or upsetting the other end, thus producing anenlargement which projects more or less from the outer face of thebuttonhead.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in wh ch- Figure l is a rear side elevation of a button sewmgmachine embodying the present 1n1provements,'and Fig. 2 a front endelevatlon of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thework-supporting and buttonhandhng devices at the forward end of the machne, showing a piece of fabric to which a ser1es of buttons is beingfastened. Fig. 4: 1s a top plan view of the lower end of thebutton-chute, the feeder and. the presserfoot; and Fig. 5 a bottom planview of the resser-foot and feeder, with a button sustamed therein infastening position. Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of the resser-foot,taken from below and rearward of the same, and Fig. 7 a perspective viewof the lower. end of the button-chute. Fig. 8 is a perspective view ofthe throat-plate. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of portions of thepresserbar and feeder rock-shaft with a stop-arm attached to the latterand in operative relation with the former.' Fig. 10 is a perspectiveview of a part of the button-hopper ad- ]acent its delivery aperture,and illustrating the way in which the buttons are manipulated therein.

The machine is constructed with a frame comprising the hollow standard 1with. the lateral work-supporting arm or horn 2 and the hollowoverhanging arm 3 in which latter is journaled the main-shaft 4-carrying at its rearward end the fast and loose pulleys 5 and G and atthe forward end the take-up cam cylinder 7 provided with the crank-pin 8connected by means of the pitman 9 with the usual stud upon the collar10 fixed upon the needle-bar 11 which carries the eyepointcd needle 12.The reciprocating needle-bar 11 is journaled in the swinging frame 13fulcrumed within the head of the bracket-arm and provided with a lateralarm 14 operatively connected by suitable means includingthe link 15,with the groove 16 of the cam-cylinder 17 deriving step-by-step rotarymovements from a suitable connection with the main-shaft 4.

Cooperating with the needle 12 is the oscillating shuttle l8 journaledin the race 19 and .provided with the thread-case 20. The shuttle isactuated by means of the driver 21 ing arm 2 is secured by means ofscrews 27}.

entering apertures 28 therein, the throat plate 29 which is formed atits outer and forward extremity with a projection 30 affording a flatwork-sustaining face 31 and the convexly curved rearward edge of whichprojection is formed with the groove or recess 32, the needle-apertureor slot 33 extending through the work-sustaining face 31 andintersecting the recessed edge 32 of said projection.

Secured to the lower end of the presserbar 34 by means of the screw 35is the shank 36 of the presser-foot 37 which is formed upon the bottomof its forward portion with a -flat operative face 38 rearward of whichit is cut away beneath the shank" to form the curved transversebutton-head guideway 39 with connected button-shank guideway 40 aboveand at a slight inclination with the Work-engaging face 38. The forwardportion of the presser-foot is slotted to afford a needleaperture 41,and the foot is formed with the depending lips 42 extending below thework-engaging face 38 and affording an extension of the button-headguideway or support 39 below the button-shank guideway 40. The shortermember of the presserfoot is formed, in alinement with the button;

shank guideway 40, with a longitudinal notch affording a stop-shoulder43 against which the shank of the button rests when in fasteningposition. The presser-bar is provided with the usual spring 44interposed between a collar 45 fixed thereon and the lower end of thebushing 46, by means of which the presser-foot is pressed downwardlytoward the throat-plate.

The top of the bracket-arm is formed at its rearward end with a boss 47affording a seat for the base 48-of the button-hopper embraced by thecylindrical casing 49provided with the lateral delivery aperture 50.Near its outer edge, the base 48 of the hopper is provided with anannular buttonshank slot51 beginning at 51 near the aperture andterminating in the branch 52 leading'laterally through the aperture 50.

' At the initial end 51* of the slot 51 is the outwardlyextnding cavity53 having one edge continuous withthat of said slot, and connected withthe concentric opposite end portion of the slot by a shallow andpreferably tapered groove 54 of less depth than the slot 51.

The base 48 is provided with a depending boss 48 in which is journaledthe: rotary shaft 55 having secured upon its upper end within the hopperthe conical block 56 carrying the outwardly extending agitatorbrushes 57by means of which the buttons are circulatedwithin the hopper and theirshanks are ultimately entered in the guiding slot 51 to insure theirdischarge in upright positionthrough the delivery aperture 50. Securedupon the lower end of the shaft 55 is the worm-wheel 58 meshing with aworm 59 fixed upon the main-shaft 4, and by 6 adjacent the opposite faceof the button to receive the fastening means. In the figure referred to,one of the buttons is represented in operative relation with the guidingslot 51, the eye 6 of the shank being embraced by the latter and theface of the but ton being upturned in readiness for traverse of theguiding groove and ultimate delivery to the chute through'the aperture50. Another button, which is represented in section, is shown inverted,which, is a position not infrequently assumed. Were the advance orconcaved wall of the branch 52 of the guiding slot continuous, theenlargement 5 of the button-shank would be in clined to follow thisbranch so as to cause the inverted button to obstruct the aperture 50,but the shallow groove 54 affords sufficient clearance to receive thebutton-shank projection 11 and thereby permit it to continue itscircular movement under the propelling influence of the rotatingbrushes. Depending from the base 48 adjacent the mouth or deliveryaperture 50 is a bracketpiece 60 whose outer face constitutes the upperportion of the button-head guideway of the chute. The outer face of thisbracketpiece is formed with a downwardly extending continuation 52 ofthe member 52 of the button-shank slot and constitutes the upper portionof the button-shank guideway of the chute. Secured upon a suitablespacing block 61 by means of the clamp-screw 62 is the cap-plate 63whose upper e'nd is inturned for entrance of the delivery aperture 50and is formed within the hopper with the shield-plate 64 with oneextremity extended oppositely to the direction of rotation of theagitator and inclined downwardly toward the bottom of the hopper,

while the portion adjacent the delivery aperture 50 is spaced above thebottom of the hopper slightly more than the thickness of a button-headand projects over the outer portion of the branch 52 of the buttonshankguiding slot, as represented in Fig. 10. formed with a longitudinalshank-end supporting groove or runway to receive the projectingextremity b of the button in its discharge from the hopper.

The body of the button-chute comprises a downwardly inclined bar 66whose rearward face affords a button-head guideway continuous with thatof the member 60 and has therein a longitudinal slot or guideway 67 inregister at its upper end with the slot 52 of the member 60 and at itslower end with the slightly flaring mouth of the button-shank guideway40 of the presser-foot when in operative position which forms anextension thereof leading into the range of action of the needle. Theupper end of the bar 66 is secured to the member 60 by means of screws68, and its lower end is suitably sustained by means of a bracket 69depending from the head of the overhanging arm 3. Overlying and spacedfrom the operative face of the bar 66 is the cover-plate 70., which isformed in its inner face with a shallow groove 71 continuous with andserving the purpose of the supporting groove or runway 65 of thecap-plate 63.- The cover-plate is attached to the guidlng bar 66 bymeans of the stud-screws 72 secured to the one and passing through anaperture in the other and is maintained seated yieldingly upon aninterposed spring 73 by means of the nut 74 applied to said stud-screw.

The button-feeding mechanism comprises the rock-shaft 7 5 journaled inthe head of the overhanging arm 3 and having fixed upon its lower endthe collar 76 provided with the lateral wing 77 tmwhich is secured bymeans of the screw 78 the slotted upper end of the depending rigid arm79. The arm 79 is formed at its lower end with the lateral extension 80whose upper face 81 in retracted position extends beneath the lower endof the button-chute and whose forward extremity affords the primarybutton-head engaging jaw 82 for propulsion of the buttons from the lowerendof the button-chute into fastening position upon the buttonheadguideway of the presser-f'oot.

The rock-shaft 75 has adjustably secured thereon by means of theclamp-screw 83 the split collar 83 formed with a lateral arm 84 to whichis pivotally connected one end of the thrust-rod 85 passing through anaperture in the lower end of the swinging The inner face of thecap-plate is lever 86 fulcrumed on the stud-screw 87 and carrying thestud 88 entering the camgroove 89 of the cylinder 17 by means of whichthe lever 86 is periodically shifted upon its fulcrum-stud. The rod 85has secured thereon by means of the set-screws 90 the thrust-collar 91held yieldingly'in contact with the lever 86 by means of the spring 92interposed between the latter and the collar 93 upon the rod 85. By thismeans, the rod 85 is caused to follow the swinging movements of thelever 86 in rocking the shaft 75 excepting when the latter 92 iscompressed and the connection between such parts is adapted to yield toprevent breakage or abnormal strain upon the parts.

The arm 79 carries upon one side the ful: crum screw-stud 94 disposedtransversely of the rock-shaft 75 and upon which is mounted the swinginglever 96 having at its lower. end a lateral extension 97 notched to embrace the operative end of the feeder-arm extension 80 and having alateral face 98 constituting the auxiliary button-head engaging jawwhich extends normally in ad vance'of the primary button-head engagingjaw 82 and is movable with said lever in a direction transverse to thattraversed by said primary jaw in pressing the button-head is abnormallyobstructed, when the; spring I upon its guideway in the presse'r-foot.Se-

cured to the rear edge of the arm 79 by means of the fastening screw 99is the flat spring 100 whose free end bears upon the rearward edge ofthe lever 96 beneath its fulcrum and normally forces the same forwardlyto bring the auxiliary clamp-jaw in advance of the primarycla'mp-jaw-relative to the latters direction of operative movement.

The lever 96 is extended upwardly above the fulcrum-stud 9t and isprovided with a laterally projecting cam-arm 101 whose operative edge102 is normally disposed at a slight inclination to the direction ofcircular movement which it derives from the sustaining arm 79 upon therock-shaft 7 5, Fixed in and depending from the head of the overhangingarm 3 is the stud 103 carr ing the anti-friction roller 104 so disposedwithin the normal range of movement of the cam edge 102 that it forciblyengages the same when the feeder is withdrawn from operative positionadjacent the stitch-forming mechanism'so as to retract to extremeposition the auxiliary button-engagingjaw for admission ofa buttonfromthelower end of the chute, but is released in the advance of thefeeder to enable the auxiliary jaw under the action of the spring 100 topress the butthe positions represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, inwhich themain-shaft is at rest, the

presser-foot is raised for introduction of the work, and the feeder isretracted rearward of the lower end of the button-chute. The foremostbutton previously supported upon the feeder extension 81 while inadvance position has descended to the lower extremity of the chute intocontact with the arms 105 and 106 of the retaining spring 107 secured bymeans of the screw 108 upon the exterior of the cover-plate 70, theint'urned extremity of the longer arm 105 engaging the lower edge of thebutton-head a and the correspondingly shaped extremity of the shorterarm 106 resting upon the outer face of the button-head between the edgeand the shank and upon the opposite side of the latter from the arm 105,as represented Fig. 7. To permit the required movement of the feeder,the lower end of the coverplate 70 is cut away,- and the retainingspring-arm 105 serves to maintain the button-head upon the lowerextremity of the button-head guideway while the other retainingspring-arm acts to prevent the turning of the button-head upon its shankand its consequent lateral discharge from the chute.

The fabric 1s introduced between the throat-plate and Presser-foot, andthe stopmotion is then tripped to simultaneously start themac hine andlower the presser-foot,

whereby the depending lip 12 of the presserfoot serves to bend thefabric sharply over the rearward edge of the throat-plate projection 30,as represented in Fig. 3. After an initial stitch has been taken, thefeeder advances to bring its primary jaw 82 into engagement with therearward portion of the lowermost button-head and the lever 96 isreleased from its retracting means to permit the spring 100 topress theauxiliary button-head engaging jaw 98 upon the outer face of thebutton-head, and the button, thus yieldingly held, is pushed past theretaining spring-arms 105 and 106 upon and along the button-headguideway 39 of the presser-foot until its shank-eye Z1 engages thestop-shoulder 43, as represented in Fig. 5, after which the severalfastening stitches s are applied, as represented in Fig. 8, the feederbeing retracted at or near the completion of the stitching operation andafter the buttonshank is securely attached to the fabric m by one ormore of the fastening stitches.

For the purposesof thepresent invention, the button-head guiding orsupporting face 39 of the presser-foot constitutes an extension of thebutton-head guideway afforded by the vertical inner face of theguide-bar 66, the sectional guideway thus formed serving in the presentembodiment of the improvement to conduct the buttons from the source ofsupply into fastening position within the range of action of thestitch-forming mechanism.

'Inpractice, the feeder-actuating lever 86 has a slightly greateroperative movement than would be required to carry the feeder from oneto the other extreme position, and the yielding connection between suchactuating member and the feeder is provided to enable the latter to bearrested when the button-shank engages the stop-shoulder 43, therebyinsuring the correct positioning of the shank relative to the fasteningmeans, even if the button is slightly distorted and the shank-eye is notexactly central with the head or if the diameter of the button-headshould be somewhat larger than that for which the machine is adjusted.The laterally yielding auxiliary jaw obviously adapts the feeder tohandle buttons of difiterent thickness of head with equal effectiveness,while permitting the button to yield slightly in case the shank-eye ismisshaped, which is frequently the case with buttons of the same classand nominal size.

It has been found in practice that machines designed for handlingrigid-shank shoe buttons would not satisfactorily handle the so-calledloose-shank buttons, or those in which theshank is swiveled in the head,and is riveted upon the outer face of the latter, for the reason thatthe shank end projection from the outer face of the buttonhead would notgravitate freely down the inclined chute and could not be properlyhandled by the feeder. Accordingto the present inprovement, thelongitudinal clearance groove 71 of the cover-plate not only receivesthe projecting shank end, but serves as a bearing for the same, so thatthe button is supported in its traverse of the chute by the oppositeends of itsmetallic shank and the head has therefore little tendency tojam in the runway in which it is confined.

The feeder, with its relatively yielding jaws, is especially adapted tohandle this class ofbuttons, the riveted end of the shank beingeffectively provided for by the same. The feeder and presser-foot,constructed as described, cooperate in such manner as to accommodatedifferent varieties of shank buttons of various shapes and sizes withoutany adjustment of their operative parts or the stops for insuring theproper positioning of the button-shanks relative to the fasteningdevices, and are adapted to handle with equal efiectiveness buttons witheccentric or misplaced shanks or otherwise defective, and the range ofuse of machines provided with the present invention is therefore muchgreater than of those heretofore employed for this 'class of work.

Some buttons, of the loose shank variety, have the heads constructed ofhardaiid brittle material, such as glass, and the forcible arrest of thebutton in fastening position. by engagement of its shank with thepresserfoot stop-shoulder 43 while the head is pro+ polled by theprimary feeder-j aw 82 ashere- ,to'tore"described, is likely to fracturethe head which is weakenedby perforation' to receive the s\v1vel-shank.Toprevent such accidentalibreakage, the feeder rock-shaft '75 hasclampedadjustably thereon by means ofthe screw 108'the split 'hub 109ofthe stop-arm 110 whose extremity 110 is shown recessed to fit thePresser-bar 3% which the arm is set 'to engage just as the buttonreaches fastening position and before its eye is thrust forcibly intoengagement with the stop-shoulder l3 by the action of the actuatinglever 86 andthe interposed cushionspring 92. {In this case; thestop-shoul- "der still serves in the posit oning of "the shank relativetothe fastening devicesavithout such forcible engagement therewith as torender breakageof the button he ad liable. "Heretofore, it a has beencustol'nary to construct the I presser foot of this class 0f machineswith the flat worlcengaging face as the lowest portion thereof, and to lutilize 'the button-head, 'propelled by the Jpu'sher 25 subsequent tothe lowering of the 1 presserfoot, to "d'efiectthe adjacent fabric belowthe "worlesu 'aport, so as-to make its own c1earance in the 1 fabric forthe button-fastening operation. This propulsion'of the buttoninforcible' contact With'the fabric to be deflected has not onl'yproduced an excessive resistance upon the feeder reqiuriiig greater ipower for its actuation a n'd greateif strength of the cushion spring92, but has endangered 35 the i breaking of the button-head.By'iproviding the presse'nfoOt with the depending frabric-deflecting H142, this resistance to the travel of the button to fastening positionhas lbeen fipracticallly, not wholly, remm-ed, the buffer-spring 92 hasbeen Jlightened so I as --to" projduce less strain upon the button bythe engagement of its shank with the a presser-lfoot' stop-shoulder, anddanger 5' of breakage by; pressure "of theg feeder upon theb'litton-head *has been substantially obi iatedl 1 It will be observedthat, ByithG- PIOVlS IOH of the recess 32? in the reari' wat 'd edge nit-the th oat-plateiprojectionfzso, a narrow seat; is a ffonded'radjacentthe flat work=supporting j f'ace 31 to} receive Ethe l'ateral thrust or;the butto'n -hea'd "adj ace'nt ftthe shank beneath which clearanceis-provided to prevent? pressu'refof the} inte'rposed' fa-bric neari thelouter 1edgebf theibuttonf espec y larger izes; so as-to' cause 1againdnc to; tilt thesame" to displace it's" shailileeye from operative-r'e'lati ou with the fastening devices.

lly when of the struct fthe button-feeding mechanism "with the severalnovel features 'herein'shovvn and described ity is evident; that 1certain of the latter may be omittedor' 'inaterialily-jmodified 5 j inform and construction, and may 'be used in other types of;button-handling mechanism than that disclosed herein, Without de-PtIIlZIII'QfI'Om the scope of the, presentinvention.

Having thus set "forththe inatu'reof the invention, What I claimherein"'is:-

1. In a bu'tton fastening machine, the,

combination with fastening devices, of button-supporting and guidingmeansin'cluding a button-head guideway leading to a position within therange of action of the fastening devices, abu'tton-fee'der adapted toengage the buttonsand to propel them along and in contact withsaidguideway andprovided with a button-engaging jaw adapted to yieldtransversely of the operative'face of said guide'way," and meansbeginning its acti'on prior'to and ending its =act1onsubsequent to thebeginning of'- a fastening operation tvlmreby Y said buttonfeeder ismovecl in operative engagement with a button'from a remote position intofastening position in ;engagement with which the button-ismaintainedduringthe beginning of a fastening operation.

2. In fa buttonfastening machine, the combination with fastening"devices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-headguideway leading to a ;posit1on'\v1t1nn the range ot action of thefastening devices, and a button-feeder adapted to engage the buttons andto propel them alongand in contact with saidguideway and comprising aplurality of relatively yielding 1 button engaging jaws of av-hieh oneis adapted to 1 yield transversely of theoperatheface of said guideway;

3. In a button-fastening machine, thecombinationmath-fasteningdev1ces,of button-supporting "andgui-ding meansinclud- "4. In" aFbutto'n-fastening machine, th

I combination-"With ,fasteI'1 -ing devices, of but- 'ton-siu 'poitingand, guiding-means:includfi'nga button-headguideway leading towa po-'s'ition Within 1 the range of "action "1 of the fastening devices, andabutton-feeder movable along and adapted to engage and pro- "pel thebuttons in contact with-said fgui-de- Way and provided with aspring-pressed lever fulcrumed thereon for movement transversely: of its direction of movement and provided with a button-head engaging jaw,and feeder actuatingmeans, acting at the beginning and end-of a periodembracing the beginning of a fastening operation and adapted to move thefeeder in engagement with the button into fastening position and holdthe sameqin such position during at least a part of the fasteningoperation. g

In a button-fasteningmachine, the combination with fastening devices, ofbutton-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guidewayleading to a position within the range of action of the fasteningdevices, a button-feeder adapted to engage and propel the buttons alongsaid guideway and provided with a button-engaging jaw adapted to yieldtransversely of the operative faceof said guideway, and means forretracting said jaw from normal operative position when remote fromfastening position, Y

6. In a button fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-headguideway leading to a positionadjacent the fastening devlces, abutton-feeder movable along and at a substantially uniform distance fromthe adjacent walls of said guideway throughout its travel tobutton-attaching position and provided with a spring-pressed leverfulcrumed thereon for movement transversely of its direction of movementand provided with a button-head engaging jaw, feeder-actuating means,and means acting upon said lever for retraction of its button-headengaging jaw when withdrawn from button-fastening position.

7 In a buttonfastening machine, the combination with fastening devices,of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-head guidewayleading to a position adjacent the fastening devices, a button-feedermovable along said guideway throughout its travel to button-attachingposition and provided with a spring-pressed lever mounted thereon formovement transversely of its direction of, movement and provided with abutton-head engaging jaw and with an arm having an operative camedgeinclined tosa-iel direction 0f vmovement, a fixed shoulder disposedwithin the path of movement of said arm of the spring-pressed lever, andfeeder-actuating means.

8. In a button fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of button-supporting and -;guiding 1 means including abutton-head guideway leading to a position adjacentthefastening'devices, a button-engaging stop a cent said fasteningdevices, a button-feeder, adapted to engage and propel the buttons alongsaid guide wava'nd provided with a jaw adapted to yicld -transversely ofthe-Operative face: of

s'aid guideway; feeder-actuating means, a yielding connection betweensaid feeder and its actuating means, and an adjustable stop fordetermining positively the advance position of the button-feederadjacent the fastening devices under the action of its actuating means.

9. In a buttoh-fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of button-supporting and guiding means including a button-headguideway leading to a position adjacent the fastening devices, a button-engaging stop adjacent said fastening devices, abutton-feederadapted to engage and propel the buttons along said guideway'andprovided with a jaw adapted to yield transversely of, the operativeface of said guideway, a rock-shaft upon which said button-feeder ismounted, feeder-actuating means, a yielding connection between saidfeeder-actuating ineans and said rock-shaft, and a, stop-arm adj ustablyconnected to and movable with said rock-shaft and adapted to engage arelatively stationary part of the machine for limiting the advance ofthe feeder under the action of its actuating means.

10. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices and a work-support, of button-supporting and guiding meansincluding a presser-foot.

formed with a button-head guideway leading to a position adjacent thefastening devices and with an adjacent work-deflecting member forbending the work over the edge of the work-support intermediate thelatter and the button-head. and a button-feeder adapted to sustain abutton-head upon said guideway during a fastening operation. 11. In abutton-fastening machine, the combination with fastening devices and awork-support, of a spring-pressed presserfoot having an operative faceopposed to that of the work-support and a button-head guiding surface inangular relation therewith and extending on bothsides of the plane'ofsaid operative face, and a buttonfeeder adapted tosustain a button-headilpon Isaidv guideway during a fastening operation.

12. In a button-fastening machine, the

combination withfastening devices and a work-support, of aspring-pressed presserfoot having an operative face opposed to that ofthe work-support and an adjacent depending lip extending below the same,said presser-foot being formed with-a button-head guideway transverse tosaid operative face and extending upon said depending lip, and abutton-feeder adapted to sustain a button-head upon said guideway duringa fastening operation.

13. In a button-fastening machine, the

combination with-fastening devices, of a work support formed with anoperative face and an edge in angular relation therewith having alateral recess, of a springpressed presser-foot having an operative faceopposed to that of the work-support and an adjacent depending lipextending below the same and spaced from said recessed edge of thework-support, said Presser-foot being formed with a button head guidewaytransverse to said operative,

face and extending upon said depending lip, and a button-feeder adaptedto sustain a button-head upon said guideway during a fasteningoperation.

14. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of a buttonhopper, a chute leading therefrom to a positionadjacent said fastening devices and comprising a guiding member formedwith a longitudinally extending and substantially vertical button-headguideway and an adjacent button-shank slot, and a cover-plate having anoperative face disposed parallel with and at one side of said guidewayand formed with a longitudinal shank-end supporting runway, and meansfor positioning the, buttons traversing said chute for the fastening.operation.

15. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of a button-hopper, a chute leading therefrom to a positionadjacent said fastening devices and constructed with two parallelmembers of. which one is formed with a button-head guideway and anadjacent button-shank guideway, a presserfoot formed with button-headand button-shank guideways in register with those of said chute, areciprocating feeder for transferring buttons from said chute tofastening position within said presser-foot, and a retaining springcarried by said chute and provided with independent arms adapted toengage a button-head at the end of said chute upon opposite sides of itsshank and to contact with the button-head respectively at the fartheredge and outer face of the same.

16. In a button-fastening machine, the combination with fasteningdevices, of a button-hopper constructed with a lateral delivery apertureand having in its bottom a circular button-shank slot formed with abranch extending through said delivery aperture and with a connectedgroove substantially concentric with the hopper and of less depth thanthe button-shanks, a circularly movable button agitator within saidhopper, and a chute in register with said delivery aperture of thehopper and leading to a position adjacent said fastening devices.

17. In a sewing machine for fastening shank-buttons to fabrics, thecombination with stitchforming mechanism including a reciprocatingneedle. of button-presenting means comprising a rigid seat disposed andmaintained throughout the complete cycle of the machine substantiallyparallel with the needle and adapted to sustain the inner face of thebutton adjacent the shankand a spring-pressed clamp jaw adapted toengage the outer face of the button-head and to yield transversely tosaid seat, means for imparting to said jaw button-feeding movementsrelatively to said seat and a work-support independent of saidbutton-presenting means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BARRON. Vvitnesses H. J. BZIILLER, H. A. KORNEMANN, Jr.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, my addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 6;

